Outside it snowed. And slushed. And froze again; and blackened; and broke bones and sprained ankles, as the treacherous streets caused shoppers to slide, the elderly to fall. Bare branches grew brittle and fractured in the cold snaps, while vicious icicles dangled blade-like over unsuspecting walkers.

Inside there were road accidents and chilblains. Cold sore blisters and encrusted noses. Muffled heads and cloudy speeches, and the deep racked coughs of all the stages of bronchitis.

"Alright boss?"

Jacob watched her as she drew nearer, she was walking quickly, a Styrofoam coffee cup held in one hand. At his words she smiled – just the hint of a smile – one that turned the corners of her lips down and glittered behind her eyes.

"Good morning, staff nurse Masters."

The way she spoke his name...he bit the flesh of his bottom lip and propelled himself away from where he rested against the reception desk, reaching out to hold the double doors open just before she got there.

She glanced up at him as she passed by, but instead of thanking him she merely moved out onto the ward, knowing full well that he would follow her.

She stopped briefly on her way across the ward to collect a stack of patients notes before making her way to her office, and, with one hand holding her cup of coffee, and the other holding the notes, she waited, looking with an amused tilt of her head to Jacob who stopped before her.

He pushed his hands into his pockets, and a smile danced behind his eyes, he had no intention of opening the door for her and she knew it.

"Would you mind-"

She let her words trail off, though she narrowed her eyes, the green-blue of the sea before a storm. Never in his life, he realised—had he seen such a heartbreaking colour.

"If you say 'please'..."

He pushed his hands deeper into the pockets of his jeans and rocked back on the balls of his feet.

"Oh..."

She pursed her lips, screwed up her nose and glanced into the middle-distance just over his shoulder.

"Come on, I know you can..."

She exhaled in response to his words and looked back at him. She gave a defeated shake of her head and turned her attention back to the door.

"Please."

She said quietly.

"Look at me."

He was enjoying this just a little bit too much. She arced an eyebrow and pushed her tongue against her cheek. She contemplated trying to open the door with her elbow, or perhaps her knee...but the indignity of either would surely be worse? She sighed again and met his eyes.

"Please."

She repeated the word on her exhale, breathy and low, her head tilted down though her eyes were raised to his, and he realised in that moment that he hadn't quite prepared himself for the effect that one word uttered from her lips would have on him.

"Thank you."

She said pointedly as he opened the door and she passed through it into her office.

"You're very welcome."

His breath caught her hair as she moved by him and he watched as she set the patient notes down upon her desk and turned to face him. She raised the coffee cup to her lips, tipping it up to draw out the last sip. He felt the wince of something deep within his chest, a deep green scratch of jealousy. It wasn't that he wanted the coffee, no. That wasn't it. Rather, he wanted to be the coffee: he envied the dark drink it's chance to taste those lips.
It was just simple, he thought.
He just wanted to kiss her.

-.-

More soon. Thank you ever so much for the reviews so far, please feel free to leave another! It's lovely to hear from whoever is reading this...

I promise a longer update next time xxx